Salary negotiating for a Military Vet

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Howdy all! New to the board, love the information I see, but throughout the internet I cannot find an answer to my question, so I figured I'd get the expert advice from ya'll.

In two years my contract with the USAF will be over, and I will be ready to move on to my life as an RN. Resume as follows:

Male

Associates Degree in Nursing

Associates Degree in Applied Health Sciences

Six years Military experience as a Medical Technician

-Have worked Family Practice, Ambulance Services, ICU, and ER

I'm set on moving to San Diego, or anywhere in California south of Vandenberg AFB. I'd love to be working Hospital, since that is my love. Travel nurse and Clinic doesn't really excite me.

Just wondering what you all think is a fair hourly rate that I can negotiate for with my previous experience. Think 40/45 is fair, or should I lower my hopes to 30 or even 25?

Thanks all.

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I say your right on the money, being male with that kind of experiance I wouldn't take less than 40-45. New grad male nurses in Sacramento start of in the $40 range (inluding night premium).

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What does being male have to do with it?

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What does being male have to do with it?

My friend who does the hiring at a local hospital told me "off the record, we perfer male nurses because they are way cheaper", this corelates with all my male nurse friend getting hired before the graduated while my female friends did not. I know its not politically correct, but I find it to be factual non the less.

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Thanks Nursingguy! I appreciate it :]

Is the cost of living in SD higher than Sacramento?

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How many years of experience do you actually have as an RN? That is what they are going to go by, as well as if the hospital is unionized, then there is not much to negotiate with. They have very set protocols in place as far as pay.

Sa Diego salaries are less than what is paid up north.

You may wish to go with the VA Hospitals as they will give you credit for your military time as well and they have some of the best benefits around in the long term of things.

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Thanks Nursingguy! I appreciate it :]

Is the cost of living in SD higher than Sacramento?

I would think so. Most of my friends who work in Sac live in the surrounding areas, housing prices are dropping fast here. We get the benifit of near San Fran wages but our costs our alot less than living in San francisco.

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Specializes in med surg, icu.

I think they base your salary on experience as an R.N... not on anything else previous (but I might be wrong... I'm a new grad myself, but I used to be a CNA... there's a girl who used to be an L.V.N. who works with me, but I think she gets the standard New Grad RN pay as well). If you work for the V.A. your military experience might count towards seniority and retirement, but I don't think it would help with pay if your experience wasn't as a nurse...

New grads generally start in San Diego at $30+ for an ADN. Some hospital systems will pay you more if you get a BSN or MSN... you might want to contact a recruiter and ask them about it.

And YES the cost of living in San Diego is MUCH MUCH MUCH higher than the cost of living in Sacramento (I grew up there and my parents still live there)... but we have a beach and surf and warm weather here, so I'm not tempted to move back to Sac. Yet. >

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I think they base your salary on experience as an R.N... not on anything else previous (but I might be wrong... I'm a new grad myself, but I used to be a CNA... there's a girl who used to be an L.V.N. who works with me, but I think she gets the standard New Grad RN pay as well). If you work for the V.A. your military experience might count towards seniority and retirement, but I don't think it would help with pay if your experience wasn't as a nurse...

New grads generally start in San Diego at $30+ for an ADN. Some hospital systems will pay you more if you get a BSN or MSN... you might want to contact a recruiter and ask them about it.

And YES the cost of living in San Diego is MUCH MUCH MUCH higher than the cost of living in Sacramento (I grew up there and my parents still live there)... but we have a beach and surf and warm weather here, so I'm not tempted to move back to Sac. Yet. >

I was just reading a article in Time magazine where the 25 year experiance nurse killed the sim pt faster than the new grade nurse in a study, time does not always mean you will be a better nurse. They found that experiance (time in the feild) as a nurse has nothing to do with your critical thinking skills.

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Specializes in med surg, icu.

Not quite sure where you're going with that statement... but I read that article, too.

I thought it was a lame attempt by Time magazine to promote its ideal presidential candidate. The responsibility of being the President (and Commander-in-Chief) of a major western power is a very different situation from working as an ICU nurse... and while they're both important jobs, it's ridiculous and irresponsible to make that sort of comparison between the two.

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hi i'm also a new grad RN here at sacramento. and i can't find a job coz they require atleast 1 yr. of experience. i don't know what to do..

got any advice?? pls... thnks

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Specializes in Emergency Medicine.

Have you thought of working in the prison system? The pay is outstanding and you can get hired. Look up the website for CDCR and you can see the wages, job duties. I just toured Mulk Creek in Ione, very nice prison. I work at San Quentin. Check it out, you can apply online. You will be surprized at the amount of money you will make. It is not bad working in prisons. I like it. And the last time I was attacked, was in a regular medical hospital. You can also check with county hospitals, and state hospitals. DMH also needs nurses. They have needs at Vacaville, Napa State Hospitals to name a few. The jobs are there, go get them. New grads accepted.

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